As Enoch started to travel through Tether City at alarming speed, Jane De Blyth first thought there was something wrong.
She had tracked him using his Angelbird. As a saint, she could feel its presence even though it was in his soul space, due to its completely pure nature.
So, out of curiosity, the woman entered the spirit realm as she lay in her bed.
She navigated the golden space using her golden light form, which was the same form she had used to help guide Enoch's Angelbird through the space during the mock battles.
The golden light form was fastest, but it was also heavily limited in its abilities. This was no problem, as she didn't plan on staying there for long.
As she navigated the spirit realm, she felt the presence of a greater being whispering to her. It constantly fought off evil presences and helped guide her to where she had intended to go.
Silently she thanked the being in her head.
Thank you, Khovar, God of Blood.
Jane laughed to herself. She had always wondered why such a sinister god had chosen to bless her once she had been born.
Her family had never even worshipped such gods, so it made no sense.
She didn't care. Worshipping the god required almost nothing on her end, and the god couldn't force her to do evil things, as her title of saint prevented her from causing people physical harm.
That was at least the way she saw things...
Eventually, Jane arrived at the location where Enoch had stopped moving. Based on her location in the spirit realm, she could tell that Enoch was resting in the forest that lay right outside the capital, Tether City.
Just as she was about to create a portal, Jane felt two disturbances in the spirit world.
One came from back at the palace. Many people stirred from their sleep and seemed to be gathering around one location.
The other was far to the north, past the land owned by the giants. It was taking place in the continent owned by the Dragoni Empire, Firhada. They seemed to be gathering a large group of forces, larger than any she had seen before.
Uncertain of what to think, Jane opened the portal and flew her golden light spirit outside, emerging into the dark forest.
There she found Enoch sat there by a fireplace of black flames, warming his hands. His white hair seemed to have grown longer, now falling past his ears.
However, what Jane noticed afterwards struck her by surprise. It was enough to make her spirit jolt.
"Horns." Her spirit said in a whisper. "You lied!"
Enoch looked up at the golden light fluttering in the sky above. At first he had mistaken it for a firefly, but after it had spoken, he knew what it was.
"Jane? You should not be here."
"You lied, Enoch. You told me you did not walk an immoral path."
The golden light flew around him, circling his head as it examined Enoch's horns. He felt as though he heard it make a "hmph" sound.
"Yes, it's unfortunate. If it helps, I did not choose this path." Enoch retorted calmly.
It was true. Up until the point he had burned Larissa to death, his descent down the immoral path was not his doing. It was simply due to the class he had awakened, and the god he had devoured.
Jane wasn't buying it.
"Is that why you're running away?" she spoke as her golden light glowed brighter. "Because you've done something evil at the palace? I can sense commotion over there."
Enoch wasn't surprised to hear this. It had already been an hour since he set his room alight. Since he had burned his lover to a crisp.
He tried not too linger on that last part.
If all went to plan, he would already be presumed dead. His mother and father would be mourning his death at that very moment.
Then, Enoch realised something. Jane had seen him in the flesh. She knew for certain that the man was alive, and walked an immoral path.
This made him nervous.
His eyes gazed into the glowing light that still fluttered around him, causing it to stop.
"P-please don't look at me like that. You are scaring me." Jane stuttered, but Enoch's gaze didn't falter.
I cannot kill her. She is a pure saint. Who knows how much it would taint my morality.
But at the same time, I cannot risk her revealing my secret.
In only a few seconds, Enoch was able to come up with a sufficient plan.
"It's true, I walk an immoral path. Though I swear to the True Creator that I have not committed any evil deeds."
Uttering such a lie almost made him physically recoil. He felt his morality balance go down to 75%.
Swearing on the True Creator and lying was never a good idea, yet Enoch continued.
"There is a long story around my escape, but to put things simply, the kingdom will suspect that I am dead. I'm forced to live my life as a vagabond, and find a new path for myself in the world... But I can't do it alone."
Jane's spirit light remained silent for a few moments, as if processing the words that the Prince spoke.
"You are asking me to come with you?" she spoke dubiously. "I can't, Enoch. Regardless of whether you are the Prince or not, my duties lie within the kingdom."
Enoch waved a hand dismissively. "You do not need to come with me physically. All I wish for is your aid in the spirit realm. Help guide me towards a greater path, and keep my secret. Is that not your role as a saint?"
Jane realised what the Prince was suggesting. It was true that as long as he didn't wander too far, she would always be able to find his spiritual location, or at least that of the Angelbird.
He's right... A saint usually is granted sainthood by a moral god, but mine is the God of Blood, one that is deemed to be evil. Would it be so wrong for me to acquaint myself with another evil being, if for the sake of helping him turn towards a moral path? Jane pondered silently.
"If it's to help you walk a moral path, then I can help you. But there's something I must warn you of."
Enoch watched the golden light, waiting for it to continue.
"If I am asked questions about you, I am required to tell the truth. After all, I am a saint and do not wish to anger the god that I serve. Luckily, I do not believe anyone will ask me such a question, and I will do my best to avoid it."
Enoch's eyebrows perked up.
"The god that you serve? Are you not a saint of the True Creator?"
Enoch had long since assumed that she was. After all, her halo and pure energy suggested that she worshipped a glorious god. Who was more glorious than the True Creator, the one who stood above all?
The light fluttered. "I am not."
This was a secret she had kept for a long time.
Enoch felt his stomach rumble. He did not press any further.
Noting that he had nothing else to say, Jane headed back towards the portal.
"If you wish to call on me, use your Angelbird to enter the spirit realm. I will be able to feel its presence and will come to you. Please be safe, your majesty."
Enoch nodded his head.
"Before you leave, there's one last question I would like to ask you." Enoch then said. "Have you heard of a place called Iudaha?"
The light paused before the portal.
"Iudaha? Yes, that is home of the god that I worship. Where did you hear that name?"
Enoch tried his best to suppress his smile. "Do not worry."
With that, Jane De Blyth flew back through the portal, leaving Enoch in the darkness of the forest by himself.
Plans of the near future made their way into his mind as he extinguished the black flames of the campfire, and headed north, further from the capital city.